Egg-carrying tube



[H. L. ENNIS. EGG CARRYING TUBE.-

(No. Model.)

No. 464,675. Patented Deb. 8; 1891.

WITNESSES s FEYERS C0,, Pnovomfnm, WASNINUYON n c rrnn 'TATns' HERBERT LLEIVELLYN ENNIS, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

EGG-CARRYING TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,675, dated December 8, 1891. Application filed July 20, 1891. Serial No. 460,017- (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT LLEWELLYN ENNIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Egg-Carrying Tubular Packages, of which the following is a specification.

I have produced an improved package of tubular form for carrying and-handling eggs, whereby their transportation, their preserva tion, and their salein small quantities by dealers are rendered convenient and safe. Each tubular package is made to hold a certain number of eggs, and to render them safe in roughly handling the tube as a package by dealers or for packing for transportation in quantities I have made provision for combining a stiffpaper tube as a protector with a fabricholder for separately suspending and laterally supporting the eggs therein. The provision for closing and fastening each end of the fabric holder to each open end of the tubular protector gives the advantage of tightening the fabric holder by a wrapping and clamping action on the open ends of the tube, while the fastening device itself, of a spider-cap form, gives the advantage of being quickly and easily connected to the ends of the fabric holder and to the open ends of the tube in a manner to permit of the quick removal of the fastening to remove the eggs. of hose of cheese-cloth forms the holder for the eggs, whichare separated therein by stilt-paper washers strung on the hose, and these washers are of a diameter greater than that of the eggs, so as to contract the hose between them and serve as supports along the inner walls of the stiff tube to keep the eggs from contact therewith by reason of the stretching action of the spider-cap clamps on theopen ends of the stiff tube. This package forms a new article of manufacture,which may be filled with eggs and retailed as such or shipped in crates as packages ready for retail sale by the half-dozen or more in each tube.

The accom an in drawin s illustrate .m P e a 3 improved egg-carrying package in elevation in Figure 1, and in Fig. 2 in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an end view of the package.

A piece- Fig. 4 is the spider-cap fastening fort he package, and Fig. 5 is one of the washers for separating the eggs in the fabric holder and supporting the fabric holder from the walls of the tube.

I make the tube a of pasteboard of sizes for half-dozen, one dozen, and one and a half dozen, according to the quantity to be packed and the means at hand for packing them, such as barrels or boxes. These tubes are open at each end and are of an interior diameter greater than that of the eggs. The flexible holders 1) I make, preferably, of cheesecloth, like a piece of hose, of lengths greater than the tubes, and these pieces of hose I fill with eggs, with a washer c, of pasteboard,

strung on the hose, so' as to contract it between the eggs and hold them separated. These washers have central openings for this purpose, and they are of greater diameter than that of the eggs, so as to form supports along the inner Walls of the tube to keep the inclosed eggs from contact therewith when the hose filled with eggs is placed within the tube, stretched therein, and fastened to its open ends, as seen in Fig. 2. For this purpose I provide a cap device for closing the ends of the hose for fastening them on the open ends of the tube and for stretching the hose egg-holder within the tube itself. This fastening I make to have the function of an open or spider cap, preferably made of wire bent so as to form a sort of tripod, having its three bent ends 1 adapted to fit over the ends of the tube like the rim of a cap, while its web part c forms a sort of slotted grip or clamp buckle, within which the ends of the cloth is put, as through a loop, and over which the ends of the cloth is Wrapped to make a tie. By turning the cap-fastening over like a spool with the hands until the hose is wrapped and tightly stretched the bent ends of the cap are then set on and over the edgeof the tube, so that it has a clamping-cap function thereon at each end to pull and stretch the hose taut therein and hold it secure, because the pulling action of the hose constantly tends to pull its tied cap on the ends of the tube. These spider fasteningcaps leave the ends of the tube open for the circulation of the air, while they serve to close the ends of the hose, fasten them to the open ends of the tube, and serve as stretchers for the hose within the tube.

To preserve the eggs, the packages can be turned end for end, as may be required, and they can be supported side by side against each other, and thus permit of close packing without danger of breaking.

\Vhile I prefer the web fastening which I have described, yet it is obvious that other fastening devices may be used having the same cap-like clamping function.

As an article of manufacture the package is fastened at each open end and can be handled with comparative roughness. It is convenient for the retail seller and for the purchaser, and can be carried in a basket or in the pocket like any other package.

I claim as my improvement 1. In an egg-carrying package, the combination of the stifi-paper tube open at each end, the cloth hose having a sufficient length to form tie ends outside the ends of the stiff tube, the stiff washers having a diameter freely fitting the interior of the tube and greater than that of the eggs which they separate within the hose, and webs or spiders adapted to be interwrapped with and tie the ends of the hose to span the open ends of the tube and to fit over and be clamped with the hose on its outer side at the edges of the ends for tying and fastening the ends of the hose to each open end of the tube, substantially in the way described.

2. An egg-carrying package consisting of a stiff-paper tube open at both ends, a cloth hose having a length greater than that of the tube, stiff washers on said hose for separating the eggs therein, and a web cap for securing, clamping, and stretching the hose directly upon the open ends of the tube, for the purpose stated.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, the egg-carrying package herein described, consisting of a stiff-paper tube, a cloth hose within the tube for holding the eggs, paper washers strung upon the hose between the eggs to hold them from contact with the tube, and a spider-cap having a slot or loop for receiving and tying the ends of the hose, and bent ends adapted to fit over the edge at the open ends of the tube to secure the egg-holder thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

HERBERT LLEWELLYN ENNIS.

Witnesses:

J. P. ENGELS, JOHN F. Sneoe. 

